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Blueberries can improve cognitive and cardiovascular health

Blueberries can improve cognitive and cardiovascular health

A recent study suggests that eating a few handfuls of wild blueberries per day could improve cardiovascular and cognitive health.

According to the study, the anthocyanins in blueberries are in charge of enhancing vascular and cerebral blood flow, which are some of the most likely mechanisms underlying normal cognitive performance.

Polyphenols, a group of plant-based chemicals with a growing body of evidence linking them to health advantages, include anthocyanins.

According to a recent study from King’s College London Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine in the UK, a cup of wild blueberries is more than just a sweet treat. Additionally, it can improve cardiovascular health, lower blood pressure, and give you a mental boost.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study discovered that those who consumed blueberries had better executive function, a stronger short-term memory, and quicker reaction times.

For a period of 12 weeks, study participants who consumed a drink made from 26 grammes (g) of freeze-dried wild blueberry powder daily exhibited enhanced blood vessel function and a 3.59 mmHG decrease in systolic blood pressure compared to those who took a placebo powder.

When given blueberries, participants performed better at switching accuracy and were better at recalling word lists right away. However, the delayed recollection showed no improvement, according to the researchers.

Every day, 178 grammes of blueberries

61 healthy Londoners between the ages of 65 and 80 made up the study’s male and female subjects. Over the course of 12 weeks, half of them drank a beverage every day that contained 26 g of freeze-dried wild blueberry powder. The other half ingested a placebo that was identical in terms of flavor, appearance, macronutrients, fiber, and vitamin C.

For precise measures, powdered ingredients are frequently used in food studies.

Participants consumed 178 grammes of whole blueberries in the form of 26 grammes of blueberry powder per day. Given that blueberries come in a variety of sizes, this amounts to roughly 75 to 80 blueberries.

It is not necessary for the blueberries to be wild, according to senior researcher Dr. Ana Rodriguez-Mateos. Since “other studies that have been conducted with other types of blueberries showing benefits in cognitive and vascular health.”

Anthocyanins: Beneficial organic pigments

The anthocyanins, blue pigments found in blueberries, are thought to be responsible for the health benefits. The study’s daily intake of powdered wild blueberries comprised 302 mg of anthocyanins. There was none in the placebo drinks.

According to Michelle Routhenstein, a dietician specialising in heart health who was not involved in this study, “anthocyanins are a class of polyphenols.”

She continued, “There are around 8,000 different kinds of polyphenols that have health advantages. Green tea, broccoli, pears, and spices like turmeric and cinnamon are a few additional dietary categories that contain advantageous polyphenols.

Strawberries, raspberries, red grapes, and purple vegetables all contain anthocyanins.

Other anthocyanin-rich foods have been shown to have health benefits. There is no reason to believe that they won’t have the same effect as blueberries. As long as the anthocyanins present in those meals are sufficient, bioavailable, and accessible, said Ana Rodriguez-Mateos, M.D.

How the study was created?

Dr. Rodriguez-Mateos and co-author Dr. Claire Williams had independently examined the cardiovascular and cognitive advantages of blueberries and observed comparable outcomes.

Dr. Rodriguez-Mateos explained that as a result, they “decided to investigate the effects on vascular and cognitive function simultaneously in one clinical study.”

They set out to evaluate cerebral blood flow since prior studies have suggested that it might be a mechanism underlying the positive effects of polyphenols in addition to increased vascular blood flow.

Recent discoveries about the gut bacteria and the gut-brain axis also motivated them to investigate this connection.

Polyphenols

There is still much to learn about the mechanism underlying polyphenols’ positive effects.

A possible explanation is that polyphenol “metabolites may act as signaling molecules, acting through several cell-signaling pathways, modulating nitric oxide bioavailability and different enzymes,” according to Dr. Rodriguez-Mateos.

After the 12-week study period, the researchers discovered increases in anthocyanin metabolites in the individuals’ urine.

According to Dr. Rodriguez-Mateos, “the mechanism of action in the blood vessels is endothelium-dependent and therefore mediated through the nitric oxide pathway.”

Although the study showed indications that blueberries increased cerebral and vascular blood flow, they observed no difference between those who consumed the fruit and the placebo group in arterial stiffness or blood cholesterol levels.

Nevertheless, according to Routhenstein, “when blood flow is improved, both heart and brain health benefit.”

According to Dr. Rodriguez-Mateos, “a hypothesis we proposed in our study is that polyphenols may act via enhancing the abundance of butyrate-producing beneficial bacteria, and therefore the production of butyrate.” This is in reference to the involvement of the gut microbiota. She stated that more research is necessary to prove this.

Foods good for heart, brain health

The American Heart Association claims that a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, minimally processed meals, and moderate amounts of oil and salt promotes improved cardiovascular and cognitive health.

A Mediterranean diet may be the best one for heart health, according to a recent study. The advantages of “green vegetables, in particular spinach, Swiss chard and kale rich in nitrates, which can help dilate the arteries,” were mentioned by Routhenstein.

“This helps to improve blood flow and vascular, heart, and cognitive function,” she said.

According to Routhenstein, there are many additional foods connected to cognitive wellness. “Omega-3 fats like wild salmon and sardines are linked to better cognition because of their rich DHA content and potent anti-inflammatory properties,” she noted.

Furthermore, “some studies suggest unsaturated fats, like omega-3 fats, may also help lower levels of beta-amyloid, a component in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease.”

REFERENCES:

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Purple veggies and tubers may have anti-diabetic properties

Purple veggies and tubers may have anti-diabetic properties

Anthocyanins are organic substances that give many fruits, vegetables, and tubers their reddish-orange and blue-violet hues. Anthocyanins have been found to have favourable impacts on inflammation, the energy metabolism, and the gut flora.

A comprehensive review of the research reveals how the effects of purple vegetables and tubers on energy metabolism. Also, inflammation and gut microbiota may help prevent and control type 2 diabetes.

Studies in terms of anti-diabetic characteristics, acylated anthocyanins, present in vegetables like red-cabbage and purple sweet potatoes were conducted. They may be superior to nonacylated anthocyanins, which are present in blackberries and blackcurrants.

The CDC estimates that around 37 million Americans—or about 1 in 10 people—have diabetes, and that 90–95% of them have type 2 diabetes.

In a typical state, the hormone insulin transports glucose (sugar) from the blood into the cells, where it is used as an energy source. Nevertheless, type 2 diabetes causes the body to improperly use or create insulin. This causes glucose to build up in the blood rather than be utilised by cells.

Diabetes, if improperly controlled, has a long list of negative effects on health. This ncludes heart disease, high blood pressure, nerve damage, eye damage and vision loss, renal illness, and foot issues.

Research has shown that a diet high in fruits and vegetables can delay or prevent the onset of diabetes. Also, it improve the well-being of people with diabetes-related health problems. Even though there are many factors that can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, including a family history of the disease.

Fruits and vegetables have a high concentration of polyphenols, which is what is responsible for their health advantages. Plants get their red-orange to blue-violet colours from a specific family of polyphenols called anthocyanins.

Consumption of foods high in anthocyanins, particularly berries, has been linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. This is according to research from the United States and Finland.

Acylated vs. nonacylated anthocyanins

Based on their molecular makeup, anthocyanins can be classified as either acylated or nonacylated.

Nonacylated anthocyanins do not have a “acyl group,” which is a chemical compound made up of two carbon atoms and one oxygen atom double-bonded to one another with a single connection to another carbon atom.

Atherosclerotic pigments that have been acylated are more enduring and resistant to digestion than those that have not been acylated. Because of this, they pass through the stomach and upper intestine without being digested and absorbed, instead moving on to the colon where they are extensively broken down by gut microbes.

Nonacylated anthocyanins are mostly found in elderberry, blackberry, and blackcurrant. However, acylated anthocyanins are present in red radish, purple maize, black carrot, red cabbage, and purple sweet potato.

It is challenging to make definitive judgements regarding the changes in biological activity between studies on the two types of anthocyanins. This is due to differences in study design and analysis techniques.

Yet according to Dr. Baoru Yang, a professor of food sciences at the University of Turku, and the other authors of the review, acylated anthocyanins may have better anti-diabetic characteristics than nonacylated anthocyanins.

Consider other variations in the sources of acylated and nonacylated anthocyanins. According to Dr. Taylor C. Wallace, founder and CEO at the Think Healthy Group and adjunct professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at George Mason University, as reported by Medical News Today.

Anthocyanins promote gut health

Using animal models, researchers have examined how different anthocyanins affect the bacteria that make up the gut microbiome.

Nonacylated anthocyanins from black rice were found to boost the number of specific gut bacteria. Notably Akkermansia muciniphila, in a rat research. It has been demonstrated that A. muciniphila improves glucose metabolism in type 2 diabetic mice by enhancing insulin secretion.

Acylated anthocyanins may be found in foods like purple sweet potatoes and Concord grapes. They have also been proven to have an impact on the gut microbiota by enhancing the growth of good bacteria. They reduces the proliferation of bad bacteria, and boosts the production of short-chain fatty acids. This is good for gut health and glycemic control.

The bulk of studies conducted to date, according to Dr. Wallace, are not sophisticated or validated enough “to actually know what happens to anthocyanins in the GI system,” he told MNT.

To truly understand if there is a difference, purified radio labelled non-acylated and acylated anthocyanins should be administered in humans, he added. To his knowledge, this has not been done because it is quite expensive.

Anthocyanins lower blood glucose levels

The suppression of enzymes involved in carbohydrate digestion is one of the pharmacological actions of anthocyanins, and it lowers blood glucose levels. Moreover, studies have demonstrated that anthocyanins activate the liver’s and muscles’ lipid and glucose metabolism pathways. This also aid in decreasing blood sugar levels.

One study found that diabetic mice given unrestricted access to food for two weeks who were supplemented with mulberry fruit extract containing nonacylated anthocyanins had blood glucose levels that were roughly 30% lower than mice who weren’t fed.

In a related study, diabetic mice were given acylated anthocyanin extracts from purple sweet potatoes for four weeks at a daily dose of 500 mg/kg body weight. Also, the treatment groups showed a significant drop in blood glucose and an improvement in insulin sensitivity.

Anthocyanin activation of the AMPK (AMP-activating protein kinase) and PI3K/AKT (phosphoinositide 3 kinase/protein kinase B) pathways, which are essential for glucose and lipid metabolism, has been linked to anthocyanins’ ability to reduce blood glucose levels.

Dr. Wallace made the observation that as the majority of the research listed in the study employed anthocyanin-rich extracts as opposed to purified anthocyanins, additional polyphenols and flavonoids could have had synergistic effects.

The majority of flavonoids have the ability to interfere with sugar absorption by adhering to sugars and blocking the enzymes that break down carbohydrates.

Anthocyanins lower inflammation 

An immediate inflammatory immunological response is brought on by eating carbohydrates or fat. Inflammation often subsides rapidly, but if it persists, it may develop into a chronic condition. Obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes can result from chronic inflammation that damages the insulin-secreting cells in the pancreas.

Nonacylated and acylated anthocyanins were added to the diets of diabetic mice in experiments to reduce inflammation. The improvement in glucose metabolism in diabetes is caused by the reduction in inflammation, which also lowers insulin resistance.

The NF-B inflammation pathway is inhibited by anthocyanins, which has been demonstrated in numerous studies to have an anti-inflammatory impact. Additional studies have demonstrated that nonacylated anthocyanins stimulate the Nrf2 pathway, which aids in the production of antioxidant proteins to guard against inflammation- or injury-induced oxidative damage.

REFERENCES:

  • https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/purple-vegetables-and-tubers-may-have-superior-anti-diabetic-properties
  • https://www.medigoo.com/news/purple-vegetables-and-tubers-may-have-significant-anti-diabetic-properties/
  • https://dunyanews.tv/en/Health/703893-Purple-vegetables-and-tubers-may-have-superior-anti-diabetic-properties

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